Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Care

Our team has been caring for our community for a while now & we’ve noticed many patients come to us with the same questions over & over again. Always feel free to ask us questions when you have them! In the meantime, check out the FAQ & answers below to learn more about your oral health.

What causes tooth sensitivity & should I be worried about it?

Patients often notice tooth sensitivity as pain when eating hot or cold foods or beverages. Tooth sensitivity is caused when the tooth’s surface has been worn away (leaving underlying dentin layer bare) or when gums have receded, exposing the sensitive root of the tooth. This exposed dentin allows heat, cold or pressure to reach your tooth’s nerve directly, resulting in pain. Tooth sensitivity can be a precursor to other dental problems, because exposed dentin is more vulnerable to decay & receding gums is a sign of possible gum disease. If you have sensitive teeth, please tell us right away so we can make recommendations on how to deal with it.

How often do I need to visit the dentist?

You should visit us every six months for a teeth cleaning. Your regular teeth cleaning appointments are not just an opportunity to get your teeth much cleaner than you can just by brushing & flossing at home, they’re also an opportunity for us to examine your mouth for potential problems. We generally take x-rays of your mouth at least once a year at your cleaning appointment, if not more often, so we can detect hard-to-see cavities & other issues. However, we should note that if we have diagnosed you with gum disease (periodontitis) or the beginnings of it (gingivitis), the doctor may ask that you come in more frequently so we can treat your condition & keep it from getting worse.

What is better, a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush?

With the proper technique, both manual & electric toothbrushes perform about the same. However, if your manual brushing techniques are less than optimal, an electric toothbrush may help you be a bit more thorough. Many electric toothbrushes have a built in timer that can help you make sure you brush for the recommended two minutes. If you are interested in an electric toothbrush, we’d be happy to talk with you about the options that would be best for you.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease, known clinically as periodontal disease or periodontitis, is when bacteria surrounds your teeth & invades your gums. The disease generally starts with little or no symptoms, so unless you visit the dentist regularly you may not even know you have it. Early stages of gum disease, often called gingivitis, can start with red, swollen gums that bleed easily & have started to recede from the teeth (your teeth might start to look longer than they used to), persistent bad breath, & gum sensitivity to acidic foods. Later stages of gum disease include abscesses, tooth pain, bone loss in the jaw & tooth loss. Gingivitis is treatable in it’s early stages, but if it becomes gum disease, it cannot be cured, only managed. Your best option is to prevent gum disease by practicing good oral hygiene habits, visiting us frequently for professional cleanings & checkups, & telling us right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

My teeth don’t hurt & they look just fine. Why do I need to see the dentist?

There are many dental problems that have no detectable symptoms, at least not at first. It’s possible to have cavities & tooth decay, gingivitis, gum disease, tooth grinding, an infected tooth or oral cancer & not have any obvious symptoms. Even if you aren’t experiencing pain, sensitivity, swelling or bleeding & can’t see anything wrong with your teeth in the mirror, there may still be a problem. That’s why we use all the latest technologies & techniques at our office, so we can detect potential problems even when you haven’t told us that something is bothering you. Visiting us every six months for a teeth cleaning & a brief dental exam is important to detecting potential problems before they become both costly & painful! We’re not trying to scare you or shake you down, we just want to keep you smiling!

We Listen, Care & Explain

As a family practice, we provide comfortable care for patients of all ages, from children to adults. From the moment you walk in the door, you’ll benefit from our experience & detail-oriented approach, as well as our warm & caring treatment philosophy.

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Dear Friends of Martin Dental Care

We are so happy to reopen our office this week seeing patients, safely and methodically, doing what we love.

Once again, we are taking measures and have protocols in place to make sure our patients are as safe as possible in this environment following guidelines of the CDC, ADA and Ohio State Dental Board. As the state of Ohio begins to open up, we are confident our dental office may actually be one of the safer places you visit:

Our staff understands how important it is to follow stringent guidelines for the health and protection of our patients.

Every surface is thoroughly wiped with bactericidal and virucidal agents.

Instruments are sterilized

We have invested in new equipment at our office that will reduce aerosols and utilize HEPA filters to safely capture microbes such as viruses and other contaminants within biological aerosols.

We have installed our very own “sneeze guard” in the reception area.

We have a stringent pre-screening protocol so that no patients or staff entering are exhibiting signs of Covid-19.

We are not using our waiting room and ask that you call upon arrival.

We are asking adults to plan to attend their appointments alone. A parent/guardian may accompany children or those with special needs.

We are taking temperatures of all staff and patients prior to entering.

We are asking anyone who enters to please wear a mask into the office and use our hand sanitizer as they enter, as well as prior to leaving.

We are also providing a pre-rinse mouthwash for patients before all appointments.

We are allowing greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you.

Appointments are being staggered to allow for social distancing and thorough disinfection between appointments.

Our staff is working hard to get everyone rescheduled and we will do our very best to accommodate appointment requests as availability opens up! Thank you for your patience! We are so happy to be back!

Map − Directions

We are conveniently located in a Century Home on the northeast corner of the five-way intersection of East Main Street, North Willow Street & the Haymaker Parkway 59 bypass, one block west of the KSU campus.. Please use the map below to find directions to our office. If you have any questions, please call us at [phone-link].[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]